Himalayan Brown Bear | 05 Jun 2023

Why in News?

The Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) population in Kashmir is facing numerous challenges that threaten both their survival and human safety.

• Recent incidents of bears entering residential areas and wrecking graveyards have raised concerns among local communities.
• These incidents highlight the urgent need to address the underlying factors causing this behavior and safeguard the habitat of this critically endangered species.

What are Himalayan Brown Bears?

• About:
  • Himalayan brown bears are a subspecies of brown bears that inhabit the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, ranging from Pakistan to Bhutan.
  • They have thick fur that is most often sandy or reddish-brown in color.
  • They can grow up to 2.2 meters long and weigh up to 250 kilograms.

• Status:
  • IUCN Red List- Critically Endangered
    • Brown bear (Ursus arctos) is listed as Least Concern.
  • CITES - Appendix I.
    • Only the populations of Bhutan, China, Mexico and Mongolia; all other populations are included in Appendix II.
  • Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 - Schedule 1.
• Food:
  • Omnivorous.
• Behavior:
  • They are nocturnal, and their sense of smell is acutely developed and believed to be their principal means of finding food.
• Threat:
  • Human-animal conflict, rapid habitat loss, poaching for fur, claws, and organs, and, in some rare cases, bear baiting.
• Range:
  • North-western and central Himalaya, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, and Bhutan.
• Challenges:
  • Insufficient Food Sources and Altered Behavior:
    • The bears' peculiar behavior of digging up graves and wandering into residential areas can be attributed to insufficient food in their natural habitats.
    • A study conducted by Wildlife SOS, an organization established with the goal of making lasting changes to protect and conserve India's natural heritage, forests, and biodiversity, revealed that a significant portion of the bears' diet in Kashmir consists of scavenged garbage, including plastic bags, chocolate wrappers, and other edible waste.
      • This disrupts their natural foraging patterns and alters their behavior, leading to conflicts with humans.
    • Improper disposal of kitchen waste by both local residents and hoteliers near bear habitats has provided easy access to food, leading to frequent interactions between bears and humans.
      • This altered behavior, coupled with complacency in hunting for food, has created a dependence on human-generated waste, further exacerbating conflicts.
  • Restricted Distribution and Declining Population:
    • The restricted distribution of the Himalayan brown bear in the alpine meadows of the Himalayas has made it challenging for researchers to gather comprehensive data on the species.
    • Habitat destruction caused by factors like habitat encroachment, tourism, and grazing pressure has contributed to the declining population of bears.
      • With only an estimated 500-750 bears left in India, urgent conservation efforts are required to ensure their survival.
  • Future Threats and Conservation Recommendations:
    • The Himalayan brown bear's future remains bleak, as a study predicts a decline of about 73% of their habitat by 2050 in the western Himalayas.
    • Climate change poses a significant risk, necessitating preemptive spatial planning of protected areas to ensure the long-term viability of the species.
    • Conservation efforts should focus on habitat preservation, creating biological corridors, and promoting responsible waste management to minimize human-bear conflicts.
    • Should Strengthen the legal protection and enforcement by implementing the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 2022 and CITES regulations.

Source: DTE